Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
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Mary Anne Epler (seated) and Katie Bowen discuss the plot of “Murder by Indecision,” a Roane Arts and Humanities production that starts Thursday. The actresses share the role of author Agatha Crispy.
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Editor - Take one murder, a roomful of party guests with motive and a world famous senile playwright and what do you get?
“Murder by Indecision,” of course, the annual spring production of the Roane Arts and Humanities Council.
The two-act play will be performed four times at the Spencer Middle School auditorium beginning today (Thursday) at 7 p.m. Other performances will be Friday and Saturday, at 7 p.m. each day, and Sunday at 3 p.m.
All tickets are $5 at the door.
“Murder by Indecision,” written by Daniel O’Donnell, is a spoof of Agatha Christie novels with a touch of the old “Murder, She Wrote” television show. The plot involves Agatha Crispy, who is writing her final play and bringing the characters to life.
To make the audience a part of the process, an extension has been added to one side of the stage where Agatha will type at her desk. The main stage will be the study of Victor Greedly, who will die in the first act, two days before Christmas at a party arranged by his wife. The two are not a happy couple as they have been wrangling over the ownership of a company.
Agatha’s deteriorating mental state is a main focus. The characters realize this will be her last play and want to go out with dignity, something that is in question because of the author’s “loony” twists and turns.
A local twist has also been added to the production. Two different casts will give performances, a younger version on Thursday and Saturday, and an older group on Friday and Sunday.
“We didn’t want to turn anyone away,” Theresa Parker, president of the arts council, said. “How will you get experience if you don’t get on stage?”
Tammy Bush is directing the play with Parker as her assistant.
Katie Bowen is playing Agatha with the young group and Mary Anne Epler with the veterans. Allison Holliday is the young group’s Ruth Less, Agatha’s agent, while Carol Richardson Staats is her counterpart in the other cast.
Some actors are in both casts, including Don Williams as Victor Greedly.
Newcomers to the local stage include Sierra Schoolcraft and Doug Smith, both Spencer Middle School students, and Roane County High School students Holliday, Kasey Jarvis, Meghan Martin, Billie Jean Murphy and Daniel Ricks.
Adults Mellon Musgrove and Staats are also in their first local play, along with veterans such as Amber Allman, Bowen, Joey Bush, Epler, Joel Jarvis, Norma Knopp, Zachary McGuire, Nichole Milliren, Caitlin Pell, JuliAnna Poole, Bill Smith, Nancy Smith, Becky Walker and Williams.
Will Agatha hold it together long enough to finish her play? Who’s the murderer? Will the two-cast system work?
You’ll have to see “Murder by Indecision” to find out.
